He was a 31 year old goalie with injury concerns and played something like 120 games under that contract.
It was inexcusable at the time and even more so with hindsight
He was a perpetual vezina contender coming into the 17-18 season.
What's inexcusable is putting an AHL team in front of a HOF goalie who plays his best in the playoffs.
Sure. Which makes the premium put on price all the more silly.
On this I agree.
Why pay a big contract to him and then blow up the team? But those are two different things and speaks to management's lack of ability... not Price's. And it goes for ANY superstar player. Brutal mismangement and lack of direction.
I will go to my grave believing that we would've won at least one cup if we'd gotten a competent GM in 2013. We were missing a few pieces but the core for a winner was there. And within four years that young core was dismantled and ruined.
THAT is inexusable.
No biggie paying for a late 20s goalie if you surround him well. Soros isn't Price so I wouldn't pay the same premium. But they have to look at their club and realistically think if they can win a cup in a shorter window. If not, they should deal him and cultivate Askarov. I'm not familiar enough with Nashville right now to say either way. But maybe it's part of a strategy to win now. Maybe they add Marner for example... then it starts to make more sense if they think he can help their offense. But they'll need more than him.
It's all about direction.